Psychologist training pathway review launched

To reduce workforce shortages while maintaining current high standards of the profession, a review of the way psychologists are educated and trained in Australia has been launched. Launched by the Psychology Board of Australia and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, it currently takes six full-time years of education and training to become eligible for general registration as a psychologist, and eight years to become eligible for an area of practice endorsement. This review — funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care — will have simplifying this process as its focus.

An aim of the review is to provide psychology students with a more efficient pathway to registration as a psychologist, with opportunities to develop practical skills throughout their program of study. “This project presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to simplify the way we train psychologists to practice effectively and safely in Australia,” Psychology Board of Australia Chair Rachel Phillips said. “It is not about changing the threshold for general registration, but rather, simplifying the way we train psychologists to meet that high threshold.”

The appropriateness and proposed design of a single, shorter, more practical course of study to qualify as a registered psychologist in Australia; overall program monitoring and data collection, and standardisation of training pathways to address access and equity challenges for those seeking to attain general registration; and utilising the level of competency attainment and workforce potential of psychology students who do not complete the full training pathway, such as in a psychology assistant workforce, are among the key considerations of the review.

This review will continue the Psychology Board of Australia’s reform agenda, which commenced by retiring the ‘4+2 training pathway’ and also included developing new professional competencies for psychologists and the recent publication of the code of conduct (which will be coming into effect on 1 December 2025). The training and education review’s project governance is now being established and a broad consultation process on the proposed changes will commence soon, including key stakeholders as well as members of the public. Updates on the review, including the forthcoming consultation process, will be provided by the Psychology Board of Australia’s website.

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